Road override is defeated by seven votes

At Monday's annual election, voters were almost evenly split on the question of a $175,000 override for road reconstruction.

By a vote of 144 to 137, voters defeated the request to fund the annual road reconstruction and maintenance program for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The question was also on the warrant for the annual town meeting, held on Tuesday night, after The Landmark went to press. A full report on the meeting will appear in next week's Landmark.

Selectmen, the advisory board and the road advisory committee supported the override.

Contacted after the meeting, Select Board Chairman Alan Sentkowski said, "I think people care about increasing taxes and the basic philosophy of overrides. I don't think people at the moment are as concerned about roads."

Voters did support the question of changing the board of health membership from elected to appointed by a vote of 174 to 78. Selectmen are seeking citizens interested in filling two of the appointed slots. Current board of health member Gregory Dowdy will stay on and serve out the remainder of his term, which expires in May 2007.

Sticker candidate John Bangrazi of 88 Bullard Road received 62 votes for a threeyear seat to represent Princeton on the Wachusett Regional School District Committee. Roger Anderson of Calamint Hill Road received nine write-in votes for the seat.

Karl Sandstrom was elected to a threeyear seat on the board of assessors, replacing

James Smith, who has moved out of town and is no longer eligible to serve as an elected assessor. Thomas Daly was elected to a two-year seat on the planning board and Harry Pape to a one-year seat as moderator. - P.B.